Caution! Watch Out For The Net Carb Trap!

As a low carb dieter, you have probably been bombarded with all sorts of new food terminology. One of the phrases you've probably heard time and time again is "net carbs." Net carbs is the new term food producers are using to describe the amount of carbohydrates in food that have a significant impact on blood sugar levels.

Food producers use a relatively simple formula to determine net carbs. They take the total amount of carbohydrates and then subtract the amount of carbohydrates that have a "negligible" effect on blood sugar.

For instance, let's say a food producer makes a candy bar that contains 20 grams of carbohydrates. Two grams of those carbohydrates are in the form of fiber. Fifteen grams are in the form of various sugar alcohols. That makes a total of 17 grams of carbohydrates that have a "negligible" effect on blood sugar. Subtract 17 from 20 and you have your total amount of "net carbs"--three.

While the advent of "net carb" labels may seem like a godsend as a low carb dieter, it is important to realize that these labels are somewhat deceptive.

To begin with, different types of "negligible" carbohydrates have different effects on blood sugar levels.

Whereas fiber may have a truly negligible effect on blood sugar levels, sugar alcohols are an entirely different story.

According to experts, sugar alcohols affect blood sugar levels at a slower and less complete rate than normal sugars do-- and also in a different manner from person to person. Some diabetics claim that they feel an immediate sugar rush after consuming small amounts of sugar alcohol while others report no change whatsoever.

Whatever the case is for you, it is probably better to ignore the "net carb" labels on products--and instead go straight to the nutritional information panel. Figure out exactly why the product is "low carb."

If there are no sugar alcohols, you can eat the product without thinking twice; if the product has a significant amount of sugar alcohol, you should either skip it entirely or count each gram of the sugar alcohol as 1/4 to 1/3 of a gram of carbohydrates. If you follow this approach to assessing "net carbs," you will avoid unnecessary cravings and seemingly inexplicable weight-loss stalls.

Benji Paras runs http://www.list-of-low-carb-food.com, specializing in the benefits of the low-carb lifestyle. The site contains a treasure trove of information for losing weight, and includes a list of low carb foods along with informative articles and the latest low-carb headlines.

---

How Green Tea Can Help You To Lose Weight

Green tea has been highly valued in Asia for centuries... Read More

Before & After: A New Look at New Years Resolutions

Have you seen the ditty below that's roaming the Internet... Read More

Weight Loss: N Y Millionaire Weight Loss ?Secret? Revealed

It is a fact that about 70% Americans are overweight.... Read More

4 Tips for Fast Fat Loss Part IV

Fat Loss Tip #4) Eat More ProteinYes, it's important to... Read More

Understanding Weight Loss

A pound of fat represents approximately 3500 calories of stored... Read More

The Neuro-Science Of Losing The Weight You Hate

Are you one of the 90 million Americans who are... Read More

FAT LOSS: The Truth On Fat Loss And How To Achieve It!

Fat Loss in GeneralThis morning I conducted a search engine... Read More

Close Kept Secrets to Weight Loss #1

I am so grateful that you're taking steps to take... Read More

Eating Tips

Make sure that no more than a quarter of your... Read More

Heel Pain and Obesity: The Chicken or the Egg?

A new survey has found that heel pain caused by... Read More

Binge Eating: Will This Cycle Ever Stop?

Here's a letter from my email:Dear Carol,I took your teleclass... Read More

Weight Loss and Disease ? It?s Not the Food that?s Killing Us!

Whether coming from a close friend, the nightly news or... Read More

Walking: Its Never Too Late to Lose Weight!

How did a thin person like me become overweight? My... Read More

Carb Crazed

Low Carb diets have become as popular as apple pie... Read More

If Youre Eating High Protein Be Informed about Mad Cow

Finding Mad Cow in Oregon puts a new wrinkle in... Read More

Walk Your Way to Weight Loss

"The sovereign invigorator of the body is exercise, and of... Read More

Healthy Hydration

Water is an essential component of the human body and... Read More

Burn More Fat With Insulin Control: The Secret Weight Loss Switch

If you're serious about losing weight and getting fit, you... Read More

The One and Only Way to Lose Weight

There is only one way to lose weightThere really is... Read More

Lose Weight & Achieve A Healthy Metabolism By Balancing And Adjusting Your Meals

How many meals do you eat in one day?Close study... Read More

Six Secret Tips That Can Help You Lose Weight Fast

1. Include in your diet things that contain more water... Read More

Close Kept Secrets to Weight Loss Lesson #2

Welcome to lesson #2. First of all, I believe that... Read More

Best Weight Loss Strategy

If you want to reduce your body fat, focus on... Read More

NotOneOunce -- Junk at the Office

After the post-Halloween sugar surge, everyone coaches you to get... Read More

To Lose Weight, Feed Your Brains

When was the last time you focused so much on... Read More

Tips for Weight Loss

For a healthy body, it is very important to have... Read More

Will I get faster results with a Personal Trainer?

If you pick the right personal trainer?you'll most definitely see... Read More

Weight Loss & Health Tips Revealed: Can I Be Fit And Fat?

We all have an image of "fit" - lean, even... Read More

Youll Need Total Will Power To Undergo Weight Loss

How much will power does it take in order to... Read More

Does Calorie Restriction Lead to Weight Loss?

Yes and no. Moderate calorie restriction helps in controlling and... Read More

Six Steps to Weight Loss Success

What does it take to lose weight?When it comes to... Read More

Say Goodbye to the Dreaded Weight Loss Plateau

Dieters dread the plateau. You're on a roll, losing weight... Read More

A New Diet -- Bowel Cleansing for Weight Loss

An ancient practice from Eastern Medicine, bowel cleansing is fast... Read More